Game apparatus.



No. 708,839. Patented Sept. 9, l902.-

0. SMITH.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed. Jan. 3, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Sept. 9, 1902i 0. SMITH. GAME APPARATUS. (Application filed Jam 3, 1902.)

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UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL SMITH, OF GRIFFIN CORNERS, NEW YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,839, dated September 9, 1902. Application filed January 3, 1902. Serial No. 88,268. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Griffin Corners, in the county of Delaware and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a game apparatus intended not only to furnish amusement, but also to interest and actually instruct persons in gunnery.

It comprises, briefly stated, a trap-or traps adapted to project a rolling target within the range of a gun, which may be either double or single barreled, and which will throw a projectile toward the target, so that when proper skill has been developed the target may be struck by the projectile.

This specification is a specific description of one form of the invention, while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the traps, showing the cover removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the gun-carriage, and Fig. 6 is alongitudinal section of the gun.

The apparatus may be supported on suitable legs 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 'or any other desired means of support maybe provided.

11 indicates a sector-like table provided at Around its peripheral edge runs an arc-shaped barrier 14., which is separated from the table 11, so that projectiles rolling along the table will strike the barrier and then fall between the barrier and the front or peripheral edge of the table. The projectiles thus falling descend upon a false bottom 15, which leads to a run 16, this run passing to the axial or inner end of the table and delivering the projectiles into acup or pan 17, provided for that purpose.

The gun is here shown as double-barreled, although obviously this matter may be varied at will. I prefer a double-barreled gun, since it enables two shots to be made at the target during a single flight thereof. 18 indicates the bed of the gun, and 19 the carriage, which is mounted on the bed to turn around a pivot 20. The bed 18 is fastened to the table 11, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the parts are preferably so arranged that the center of the pivot 20 is axial to the are described by the outer edge of the table 11. The barrels 21 of the guns are fastened down in grooves in the top of the carriage 19 by means of a clamp 22. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Within the barrel of the gun (see Fig. 6) is a plunger 23, carrying at its front end a cup 24, in which the projectile is placed and from which it is shot. The plunger 23 has a rod 25 connected to its inner end, this rod passing loosely through the barrel and being adapted to be held back with the plunger in firing position by means of a dog 26, mounted at the breech of the gun and provided with a finger-piece or trig ger 27, so that the dog may be released.

28 indicates a spring located in the barrel and bearingbetween the inner end of the plunger 23 and a stop or drum-head 29,fastened inthe barrel and loosely receiving the rod 25.

30 indicates a pin carried transversely byto be shot ahead, as will be readily under- I stood. It will be observed that the gun may be turned with the carriage so as to aim the projectile at any point along the peripheral edge of the table.

Two traps are preferably provided, located one at each end of the outer or peripheral edge of the table. These traps are in practice protected by covers 34, which are provided with openings 35, through which the rolling target may pass into and out of the traps. In Fig. 3 the right-hand cover 34 is supposed to have been removed. Fig. aalso shows the cover of the trap removed. Formed in the top of the table 1], directly adjacent to its outer edge and following the curvature thereof, is a groove 36, along which the rolling target is adapted to move. This target is preferably in the form of a metallic ball. It is indicated at 37 in Figs. 1 and 2, and it will be observed that when the target is struck by a projectile from thegun it will be thrown with the projectile into the chamber formed by the false bottom 15 and will then roll back into the, pan 17. Each trap comprises a striker 38, in the form of a bell-crank lever, one arm of which plays in the groove 36 and the other arm of which is pres ed by a spring 39, which throws the striker into the position shown in Fig. i. The striker 38 is drawn back against the tension of the spring 39 by means of 'a dog 40, pi\'oted on a swinging bar 41 and connected to a rod 42. 41 indicates a spring for throwing the bar 41 into the position shown in Fig. 4. These rods 42 of the respective traps are extended down along the radial sides of the table to points directly adjacent to the gun-carriage 19, said rods lying one on each side of the gun-carriage and provided with lateral projections 43, adapted to be engaged by pins 44:, fastened to the guncarriage and lying ahead of the lateral projections 43. The parts being normally in the position shown in Fig. at and a target-ball lying in the groove 36 against the striker when the gun is thrown toward the trap, (say, for example, the right-hand trap in Fig. 3,) the right-hand pin 44 will engage the projection 43 of the right-hand rod i2, and this rod will be drawn to the left. It will throw back the striker against the tension of the spring 39, and finally the dog 40 will pass under the striker, thus releasing it. The spring 37 now asserts itself and a forcible impulse is given to the target-ball, causingit to roll throughout the groove 36 and into the opposite trap. Assuming that this movement of the target is from the right to the left with reference to Fig. 3, as soon as the ball passes out of the righthand trap the person playing the game should discharge a projectile and if possible strike the target-ball before it reaches the left-hand trap. When the ball reaches the le ft-hand trap, the gun after having been loaded should be thrown toward the left-hand trap, and this will start the ball from the left-hand trap, causing it to run into the right-hand trap. Thus the apparatus is operated, and of course interesting and instructive games may be based upon the mechanism herein disclosed. The connection of the rod 42 with the dog 40 and the pivotal connection of said dog with the arm 41 enables the dog to return to its active position-by moving under the arm of the striker with which it is engaged, the dog finally assuming its vertical position by force of gravity, all of which will be apparent upon an inspection of the drawings.

In the operation of the apparatus only one target-ball is employed, this ball being driven alternately from one trap to the other. In this connection it will be apparent that owing to the segmental form and inclosing of the table downward toward the axis of the sector the groove or run 36, being at the periphery of the sector, is highest at its middle, and the target-ball will roll either way from this point. Therefore as the ball starts at one trap it rolls up the incline until the middle is reached and then its course is downward toward the other trap.

Various changes in the form and details of my invention may be resorted to at will without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. Hence I consider myself entitled to all forms of the invention as may lie within the intent of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of a gun, mounted to swing, a target-trap, and a connection between the two to operate the trap from the gun.

2. The combination of a gun, mounted to swing, a target-trap capable of throwing the target across the range of the gun, and a connection between the trap and the gun to operate the trap from the gun.

3. The combination of a target-trap, a turning gun-carriage, a gun thereon, and a connection between the trap and the gun-carriage to operate the trap upon the movement of the gun-carriage.

4. The combination of a gun,two oppositelydisposed target-traps capable of throwing a target from one to the other, and connections between the gun and the traps to operate the traps upon the movement of the gun.

5. The combination of two oppositely-disposed target-traps capable of throwing a target from one to the other, a gun mounted to swing, connections between the gun and the traps, said connections including rods with lateral projections, and parts connected with the gun alternately to engage the said projections as the gun swings.

6. The combination of a sector-like table having a target-path extending along its peripheral edge, a target-trap for projecting a target along said path, and a gun located at the center or axial portion of the table and mounted to swing so as to command the entire length of the said path on the peripheral edge of the table.

'7. The combination of a sector-like table, a target-trap for projecting a target along the outer or peripheral edge thereof, a gun arranged at the center or axial end of the table, and a connection between the gun and target to operate the target upon the movement of the gun.

8. The combination of a sector-like table, a target-trap for projectinga target along the outer or peripheral edge thereof, a gun arranged at the outer or axial end of the table, and means for returning the target and projectile from the outer or peripheral end of the table to the inner or axial end.

9. The combination of a sector-like table, an abutment arranged adjacent to but separated from the outer peripheral end thereof, a means forminga passage from the outer end of the table under the same to the inner or axial end, and devices for projecting objects over the table, said devices comprising a gun and a target-trap.

10. The combination of a sector-like table having a runway on its upper face adjacent to and following its outer or peripheral edge, means for projecting a target along said runway, and a gun arranged at the inner or axial end of the table and adapted to swing so as to throw a projectile toward any point on the peripheral or outeredge of the table.

11. The combination of a sector-like table having a runway on its upper face adjacent to and following its outer or peripheral edge, means for projecting a target along said runway, a gun arranged at the inner or axial end of the table and adapted .to swing so as to throw a projectile toward any point on the peripheral or outer. edge of the table, and a connection between the gun and the means for projecting the target.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL SMITH.

Witnesses:

PHILIP F. SOHAEFER, MARSHALL MAYES. 

